A Pilot Study of Neonatal and Pediatric Esophageal Pulse Oximetry

In Brief BACKGROUND: In this pilot study we explored the suitability of the esophagus as a new measuring site for blood oxygen saturation (Spo2) in neonates. METHODS: A new miniaturized esophageal pulse oximeter has been developed. Five patients (one child and four neonates) were studied. RESULTS: Spo2 values were obtained in the esophagus of all patients. A Bland and Altman plot of the difference between Spo2 values from the esophageal pulse oximeter and a commercial toe pulse oximeter against their mean showed that the bias and the limits of agreement between the two pulse oximeters were +0.3% and +1.7% to −1.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the esophagus can be used as an alternative site for monitoring blood oxygen saturation in children and neonates. IMPLICATIONS: This preliminary study suggests that the esophagus can be used as an alternative site for monitoring arterial blood oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry in children and neonates.